Collecting Historical Evidence,
Busting Myths,
Taking Names.
Collecting Historical Evidence, Busting Myths, & Taking Names.
The Professor Buzzkill podcast is a weekly romp through some of the history myths that are most deeply embedded in our culture.
Latest Episodes
The Candy Cane – Encore!
This week, we examine a history myth that gets a lot of “air time” during the holidays: the supposedly religious origins of the candy cane. The story (seen mostly in emails from your nutty uncle) goes something like this: In the early 20th century, a confectioner in Indiana created the candy cane as a symbol…
Read MoreThe Mozart-Saleri Feud: Did “Amadeus” Tell the Real Story?
The film “Amadeus” was a huge hit in the mid-1980s. It depicted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri as musical rivals in the Austrian court in the late 18th century, which ultimately ends with Mozart’s early death. But was anything in the film accurate? Did Salieri plot to kill Mozart? Was jealousy over musical genius…
Read More“It’s a Wonderful Life” 1947 Radio Drama
Listeners have asked me to post the 1947 Lux Radio Drama version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Enjoy this great story in a different format! — Buzzkill Bookshelf Michael Willian, The Essential It’s a Wonderful Life – 75th Anniversary Edition: A Scene-by-Scene Guide to the Classic Film To celebrate…
Read More“It’s a Wonderful Life” Myths and Urban Legends: 2023 Encore!
Imagine being tortured by wartime memories. Explosions, death, mutilated bodies (some of them friends of yours), all the screaming. Now, imagine them coming from a very confined and dangerous place. I’ve always thought that being in a warplane or submarine would add the extra stress of being trapped, and not even being able to contemplate…
Read MoreThe Best Years of Our Lives: the Greatest Film You Haven’t Seen!
Released in 1946, The Best Years of Our Lives became an immediate success. Life magazine called it “the first big, good movie of the post-war era” to tackle the “veterans problem.” Today we call that problem PTSD, but in the initial aftermath of World War II, the modern language of war trauma did not exist.…
Read MorePearl Harbor 2023 Encore
Did FDR know about the attack ahead of time? And who was the attack more devastating for – the United States or Japan? Professor Phil Nash joins us to explain the myths and misconceptions about the December 7th, 1941 attack, as well as the complexities of the cultural importance of the attack since then. You’ll…
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Popular Episodes
“It’s a Wonderful Life” Myths and Urban Legends: 2023 Encore!
Imagine being tortured by wartime memories. Explosions, death, mutilated bodies (some of them friends of yours), all the screaming. Now, imagine them coming from a very confined and dangerous place. I’ve always thought that being in a warplane or submarine would add the extra stress of being trapped, and not even being able to contemplate…
Read MoreMcCarthy and McCarthyism: American Demagoguery During the Cold War
Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the most notorious politicians in American history. He made wild accusations, ruined the lives and careers of countless people, and stained American politics with investigative tactics similar to those in Stalin’s Soviet Union. Just as important, however, was McCarthyism. Professor Philip Nash explains all in this gripping episode that…
Read MoreAlbert Einstein: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein was one of the most significant scientific geniuses of the 20th century. His theories helped scientists break through some of the barriers to our understanding the physical world and the universe. He also contributed greatly to the philosophy of science. Is it any wonder, therefore, that the quote, “the definition of insanity is…
Read MoreThe Buzzkill Institute
The Professor Buzzkill History Podcast tackles our culture’s most commonly accepted history myths and misunderstandings, one show at a time. Through intensive research, discussions with some of the world’s most important historians, and a relentless dedication to finding historical truth, we have become one of the most popular history show in the podcast world. We bust myths, but go further — we show why the history surrounding that myth is so important. We explore dubious quotes from the internet, bring to light overlooked people who deserve more fame and glory, and have fun with our listeners.
Meet Your Host
Professor Buzzkill
Historian for the Public
In real life, “Professor Buzzkill” is Dr. Joseph Coohill, a historian of Britain and Ireland. Coohill’s first experience with the audio realm occurred while studying modern history at Oxford. He hosted “The History Show” on Oxford Student radio, which lasted almost four episodes; “The History Show” was an instant failure and Coohill feels shame.
Yet, the spark of enthusiasm for history and the desire to inform remained, and the Professor Buzzkill podcast was born. Coohill works tirelessly to explain complicated yet compelling historical analysis to diverse audiences. By explaining how misunderstanding history hurts public discourse and policy decisions, he offers clear and concise solutions to such problems, using examples from history.
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A Word from Our Listeners
Great history podcast!
Love the detail and complexity that the host goes into–so many popular history podcasts flatten the past for an easy story but this one shows that the reality is always more interesting.
—Mr.Gal, Submitted via Apple Podcasts
I'm hooked!
Great mix of historical facts and pop culture. Prof Buzzkill delivers a well-paced informative podcast.
—sixfloors, Submitted via Apple Podcasts
It's that good.
It’s not everyday you come across a podcast that has great information that you can relate to from someone who is so passionate about sharing it with the world. So glad to have discovered Professor Buzzkill and to learn a little bit more of something I didn’t really know a lot about.
—Dependent_Nick, Submitted via Apple Podcasts
Won’t kill your buzz, history lovers!
—FrenchTurk, Submitted via Apple Podcasts
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